The last time I set foot in Belfast was during the summer of 2004 when Marillion played The Empire Ballroom while touring their magnificent Marbles opus. That little venue – where my Mum used to go in her teens for what, I suspect, would pass as a pre-1950s ‘rave’ – was quite bizarre.
The only way I can describe it is that it felt like going into someone’s front room. The band had to leave half of their equipment in the tour truck because it wouldn’t fit on the stage, and I spent the entire evening near the front pressed against the bar where it was easy to acquire a pint in the sweltering heat generated by guitarist Steve Rothery’s blistering solos.
Aside from one Ned – that’s Glaswegian for Chav – who insisted on shouting “Grendel” all night (you need to be a Web UK member to understand the significance of this) it was a cracking evening.
Beautiful people, beautiful place
Northern Ireland is a wonderful country populated by friendly, warm people and characterised by stunning terrain, so when Richard Fenton-Jones – the newly-appointed md of G4S’ Monitoring and Response business – sent me an exclusive invitation to visit the new Monitoring Centre at Heron View, I naturally jumped at the chance.
With Luton Airport my second home these days, I grabbed a cab at about 7.00 am and arrived in good time for my 8.30 am flight. G4S had kindly arranged for a taxi to pick me up at Belfast International Airport. The drive to Heron View, where the new Monitoring Centre is based, was very picturesque. We passed through a district called Holywood. It’s very posh apparently, with the cab driver telling me that some of the houses go for a cool GB pound 7 million. I don’t think any of those places will be bought by a journalist in my lifetime.
We drove around the Harbour Estate area for what seemed like ages before stumbling across the G4S base by way of several phone calls to Taxi Headquarters and a chat with one or two local workers who pointed us in the right direction. It’s a very impressive building. Modern and stylish at the same time. It resembles a good many of today’s high-tech office spaces. Only this one has a more satisfying and important purpose to it – preventing crime and saving lives – than the soulless, relentless generation of The God Money. Whatever happened to the ‘value’ of what’s produced? Doesn’t that count any more?
Just outside the main entrance and under the watchful gaze of Ireland’s ‘eyes’ – PTZ cameras, in other words – stood David Taylor-Smith, CEO of Security Services for the whole of the UK and Ireland. David was talking furiously on his mobile, so we shook hands and smiled at each other before I passed into the reception area, signed in and was shown through to the drinks reception in the main training room. The first face to greet me was the aforementioned Mr Fenton-Jones. As ever, immaculately turned out and, as ever, with a beaming smile on his face. Richard asked me how I was doing and said that he’s still an avid reader of Security Management Today (SMT). Great stuff.
Given that he used to work at Securicor, I wondered how Richard had taken to the ‘amalgamated culture’ of the merged behemoth that is G4S? “The culture has changed tremendously, and for the better,” opined the former head of OCS Security.
“I Am The Law!”
Richard introduced me to his colleague Soren Lundsberg-Nielsen, group general counsel at G4S. Based at The Manor in Crawley, Soren is head of all matters legal. “That must be a tremendous responsibility on your shoulders?” I ventured. “You could say that!” retorted Soren, and then we discussed margins in the guarding industry. As you can imagine it was a fairly short conversation. That subject always is these days, but wasn’t the status quo supposed to change post-ACS?
After marketing specialist Naomi Groom – looking radiant in her post-wedding glow – had furnished me with several memory sticks’ worth of information and a press pack (and apologised for not having the time to escort me to Wimbledon this year for our annual bout of tea and tennis) it was time for a tour of the facility. Click on the link to the right of this page for my full News item. That’ll tell you all you need to know, folks!
The official opening – complete with the unveiling of a plaque hidden behind a scarlet curtain – was conducted by David Taylor-Smith just after noon following a brief introduction from Richard. With other parties starting their tour of the building, I hit the training room again for a glass of rose and a chinwag with Gary Culleton (national control centre manager for G4S who, it turned out, had been on the same flight as myself from Luton). Gary is another keen reader of SMT. “The journal is extremely useful as a reference medium, and in terms of my day-to-day role the practical advice it offers is very good indeed,” Gary told me. That’s great to hear. If guys like Gary are benefiting from the journal then it’s fulfilling its primary function.
Back outside, David, Richard and Doug Hewitson – managing director of G4S Security Services (UK) – were chatting away so I took the chance to join them and have a few photos taken. Why not? These guys are part of the Cream of the Crop as far as security in the UK’s concerned. Besides that, I thoroughly enjoy their company.
Gers of the Glen
In particular, it’s a joy to talk to Doug. A proud Glaswegian, Doug has written for SMT on numerous occasions, most notably when he was head of the aviation business at G4S. This time around, I discovered that Doug used to live in Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire, which is where my beautiful fiance Annora was raised. What a coincidence. Then when we chatted further, it emerged that Doug is a lifelong Rangers fan and Season Ticket holder in the Club Deck at Ibrox. I have always supported Rangers and, this season, have a Season Ticket in the Copland Stand, so we had plenty to talk about there (in particular the 4-2 win at Celtic last weekend).
G4S recently bought Rock Steady, of course, and it’s they who take care of the match day stewarding and event security at Ibrox. There’s a good deal of G4S branding around the ground now, but I haven’t seen it as yet because it only appeared following the last home game against the Jambos (that’s Hearts, by the way). I’ll make a point of looking out for the branding when we play Killie (Kilmarnock) next Saturday, and chat to a few of the stewards for good measure.
G4S had booked a fabulous restaurant in the heart of Belfast for those that wanted to stay for luncheon. I did! We jumped into a couple of cabs and headed for James Street South (the name of the restaurant, not the road it’s in).
On the way (and in the restaurant, as it turned out) I had the pleasure of sitting next to Vincent Bradbury, operations director for G4S Security Services (UK) who’s based at the Skypark offices in Glasgow. “I always enjoy talking to ops guys,” I said. “They’re the ones who really know what’s going on in the guarding world.” At which point Vince gave me the lowdown on how licensing and regulation is panning out. We discussed margins – yes, them again – and career progression. Thoroughly interesting stuff.
A meal fit for a King
Luncheon was a sumptuous affair. With Vince on my left and Tony Weeks from the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) to my right, I tucked into three delicious courses. Up first was some pan-seared pork complete with quails egg and artichokes. I’m not a huge fan of the ‘green sticks’, but these ones were very tasty indeed. The main course, for me at any rate, consisted of bream with a crispy skin, some more artichokes and a side salad. The final course of creme brulee was probably the best I have ever eaten.
A truly memorable meal, made all the more special in that this was the first time I have had a chance to pick the brains of aforesaid Mr Weeks. Tony is on the systems side of the NSI’s business and mainly deals with installers – hence his major contact at our place is Security Installer’s Editor and doyen of the industry Alan Hyder – so it was nice to hear his views on a few matters. Tony is a really nice guy and a pleasure to talk to. Make sure you seek him out at an industry event soon. He has a wealth of knowledge to impart.
Pretty soon the clock had ticked around to 3.30 pm, and it was time for us to depart. Most of the guests were flying back to Heathrow or Gatwick. I was the lone passenger to head for Luton. The taxi dropped me off at around quarter past four. Check-in didn’t begin until ten to six, so I was in plenty of time and decided to settle down and do some reading. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that one line on the Departures board was flashing red. Out of curiosity, I checked it out. I wish I hadn’t… My flight, which was due to take off at ten to eight, was delayed until 11.15 pm.
We still checked in at ten to seven. As a regular flyer with easyJet, I have an easyJet Plus card so I’m guaranteed Speedy Boarding, etc. The easyJet reps were all very apologetic about the delay. I didn’t really mind, to be honest. There is nothing you can do when this happens, so there’s no point in being angry. We were given a food voucher for a couple of quid (which buys you a bag of crisps in most airports, but at least it showed willing). I passed through the security checks, and then picked up a City Hall fridge magnet for Mum. She collects them, you see.
Have it your way
The only food on offer was the airport’s in-house cuisine (vastly overpriced) or Burger King. I went for the Whopper meal and some onion rings. Very tasty. Washed that little lot down with a latte from Cafe Ritazza and then just sat around for hours…
I tried to call Nonnie but I couldn’t hear anything. She couldn’t hear me, either. Great. The speaker in my Samsung Mobile had packed up. That’s all I needed…
Anyway, we touched down at Luton well past the witching hour. The cab I had booked to take me home would surely have gone. I had to use a payphone to call them, but the minimum charge was 40p and I only had 10p in change on me. There were no airport shops open, so I had to bite the bullet – to the tune of GB pound 30 – and take a rank taxi. Not a bad price, though, considering the time.
It had been a long day, but a very enjoyable one. Many, many thanks to everyone involved. Oh, and by the way Naomi, the memory sticks will be put to good use so there’s no need to worry!
